Allen Farnham - Meets the RIAS Big Band (1998)

20 Sep, 22:30
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Artist: Allen Farnham
Title: Meets the RIAS Big Band
Year Of Release: 1998
Label: Concord Records[CCD-4789-2]
Genre: Jazz, Hard Bop
Quality: FLAC (tracks + .cue,log)
Total Time: 72:40
Total Size: 431 MB(+3%)
WebSite: Album Preview

personnel :

Allen Farnham - piano
The RIAS Big Band:
Jiggs Whigham - conductor, trombone
Christian Grabandt, Greg Bowen, Till Bronner, Yordan Kapitanov - trumpet
Dan Gottshall, John Marshall, Thomas Loup - trombone
Andreas Grossmann - bass trombone
Gregoire Peters, Klaus Marmulla - alto saxophone
Walter Gauchel - tenor saxophone
Rolf von Nordenskjold - baritone saxophone
with special guests:
Chris Potter - tenor saxophone
Hendrik Meurkens - harmonica
Chris Berger - bass
Tim Horner - drums

For an ensemble whose origins go back to the end of World War II, when the Glenn Miller sound ruled the waves, Berlin's RIAS Big Band has come a long, long way, for it now has as contemporary and sophisticated a sound as any mainstream big band. So pianist Allen Farnham discovered when he journeyed to Berlin to record nine of his charts, all ambitiously harmonized, forward-thinking creations that are superbly executed by the 12-piece Berlin horn and reed section. Three of the tunes are Farnham's -- including the brilliant opening flag-waver "RIAS-Ticity" -- the rest being standards and a pair of sambas. Farnham's own piano is always direct and unpretentious, a good foil for his arrangements, and his regular bassist Chris Berger and drummer Tim Horner provide fine support for the whole crew. The eloquent harmonica virtuoso Hendrik Meurkens adds a splendid wailing touch to the ensemble -- one is reminded immediately of Toots Thielemans' work with Quincy Jones' big bands -- and tenor player Chris Potter matches the heat of the RIAS soloists.~ Richard S. Ginell

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